奇妙的裁決

奇妙的裁決

A poor chimney-sweeper, who had not enough money to buy a meal, stopped one hot summer day at noon before an eating-house, and remained regaling his nose with the smell of the food.

有一個(gè)貧窮的掃煙囪工人，窮得連一頓飯也吃不起,一個(gè)炎熱的夏天的中午，他在一家餐館前停了下來(lái)，站在那兒用鼻子貪婪地嗅著食物的香味。

The master of the shop told him several times to go away, but the sweeper could not leave the savory smell, though unable to purchase the taste of the food.

餐館老板幾次叫他走開，他都舍不得離開這令人垂涎欲滴的香味，盡管他沒(méi)有能力買來(lái)食物嘗嘗。

At last the cook came out of the shop, and taking hold of the sweep, declared that, as he had been feeding upon the smell of his food, he should not go away without paying half the price of a dinner.

最后，廚師從店堂內(nèi)走了出來(lái)，一把抓住那個(gè)掃煙囪工人，說(shuō)他聞飽了菜肴的香味，硬要他付一半飯錢，不然，就不放他走。

The poor fellow said that he neither could nor would pay, and that he would ask the first person who should pass, whether it was not an unreasonable and unjust demand.

那個(gè)窮漢子說(shuō)他既付不起也不愿意付，并且提出要請(qǐng)第一個(gè)過(guò)路人來(lái)評(píng)一評(píng)廚師這樣的要求是否合理。

The case was referred to a policeman, who happened to pass at that moment.

這時(shí)候，一個(gè)警察碰巧從旁邊經(jīng)過(guò)，這事就告到了他那里。

He said to the sweeper: